Three month delay in Slipper appeal

JAMES Ashby will have to wait until May to continue his appeal against the decision to throw his sexual harassment case against Peter Slipper out of court.

Ashby, and his solicitor Michael Harmer, want permission to appeal last December's judgment which found their case against the former Speaker was an abuse of process and orchestrated as a politically-motivated attack on his reputation.

While Mr Harmer wasn't involved in the initial case, he wants to appeal based on the scathing findings which were made against him by Justice Steven Rares, including that he had misused the court's process by including "scandalous'' allegations which were withdrawn after being made public.

Mr Slipper is applying for Mr Ashby and Harmers Workplace Lawyers to pay his costs on an indemnity basis.

He had been accused by Mr Ashby, his former media advisor, of sexual harassment with hundreds of texts messages between the pair revealed during proceedings last year.

An all-day attempt at mediating the case in October was also unsuccessful, with Mr Slipper then forced to represent himself in court as he pleaded to Justice Rares to dismiss the case.

The lengthy judgment found that Mr Ashby's "predominant purpose in bringing the case was not a proper one.''

Mr Ashby didn't appear in court for today's quick directions hearing but Mr Harmer came to court flanked by his spokesman Anthony McClellan.

Justice Arthur Emmett has been told the matter is "a heavily fact-dependent challenge'' and has ordered that the applications for leave to appeal should be heard before a full Federal Court bench.

Mr Slipper's costs case will be dealt with after that, the court heard.

The case has been adjourned for a further directions hearing on May 30.